The Fourth Sunday of Lent: Reconciliation
Balancing God’s justice and mercy is a challenge we often face. During Lent, it is easy to envision God as a figure of fire and brimstone, solely focused on demanding restitution. Yet this Sunday’s Gospel, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, offers a beautiful reminder: God is the Father whose deepest desire is for His children to return home to Him.
Prodigal Sons, Prodigal Daughters
The parable begins by introducing us to the strained relationship between the father and his younger son, who demands his inheritance. Soon, he leaves with his share, only to squander it all away. Reflecting on our own lives, we may recognise moments when we, like the younger son, chose our own path over God’s — choosing sin and self-reliance, exchanging our true identity as children of God for fleeting moments of satisfaction. Eventually, the younger son’s destitution is what makes him recognise how much better off he would be with his father, even as one of his servants. Similarly, it’s often in our lowest moments that we come to terms with our deep lack, and our need for God becomes increasingly evident.
Reconciliation: The Gift of Restoration
Just as the younger son returns to his father in repentance, we too find ourselves at a crossroad when we seek God’s forgiveness. We might echo the cry of the younger son: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” (Luke 15:19) Even as he seeks his father’s forgiveness, his transactional mindset remains, with his identity as son continuing to be up for exchange. The act of reconciliation comes across as more of a means to an end for him, of no longer being destitute, rather than about their relationship. How often do we approach reconciliation with God in a similar way?
In this season of Lent, our sacrifices, commitments, and even going for penitential services may sometimes feel less like genuine acts of repentance and more like attempts to placate God. It’s a struggle I continue to wrestle with, constantly grappling with the true nature of my intentions. Too often, reconciliation has been about regaining peace and relief from my deep fears of punishment or abandonment by God, or about fulfilling my own standard of what it means to be a “good” Catholic. In these moments, I’ve missed the point: reconciliation is not a means to an end, but the precious gift of being reunited with God the Father.
Rooted in Unconditional Love
For just as the father ran to meet his younger son while he was still far off, so too does God run to meet us, even when we are still on our way and in the midst of our weakness. Reconciliation is the encounter with God’s unconditional love — a love that, despite our sins and failures, reaffirms our identity as His children. Yet, this can be difficult to grasp, and we might find ourselves resonating with the elder son’s resentment; our pride and brokenness sometimes clouding our ability to accept this joyful and beautiful gift. In the midst of our struggles, we are invited once again to step beyond our myopic vision — to move out of our self-centeredness, and into the boundlessness of God.
In these last few weeks of Lent, let us be rooted in the love that does not count the cost. The love which calls us to return to God and moves us to a true repentance – one that seeks not to gain anything, but to simply love the One who has loved us first.
Reflection Questions/Activity
What does reconciliation look like in your relationship with God? (E.g as an obligation)
What are the obstacles that prevent you from returning to Him? (E.g pride/fear)
How do you desire to move in a new way with Him in this area? Make a concrete commitment.
Invitation of the week
This week, make your own return home to the Father, and commit to going for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Make time to prepare for the Sacrament through prayer, but don’t just ask Him to reveal the areas of sin. Pray, also, for the grace of new belief and conviction – in his love, mercy, and in who He says He is.
